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ERC Advanced Grant awarded to Prof. Andy Baker

ERC Advanced Grant awarded to Prof. Andy Baker

15 April 2024

Prof. Andy Baker (Dept of Pathology) has been awarded a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant of €2,5M for his research project PolymiRize: Poly-miRNA targeting to prevent and reverse complex tissue remodelling after acute cardiovascular events'.

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Longer and better lives for patients with atrial fibrillation

Longer and better lives for patients with atrial fibrillation

15 April 2024

An international panel of experts published recommendations to improve management of atrial fibrillation (AF).

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Carim Maastricht
Carim Maastricht

Uli Schotten

Professor

Professor Uli Schotten studied medicine at the universities of Aachen, Glasgow, and Valetta. After four years of training in cardiology at the University Hospital of Aachen, he joined the Department of Physiology at Maastricht University in 1998, first as a scholar of the Academy of Sciences of North-Rhine Westfalia and from 1999 on as a staff member of the department. He defended his thesis 'Mechanisms of Atrial Paralysis in Atrial Fibrillation' at Maastricht University in 2003, and received his habilitation in Experimental Cardiology at the University Hospital in Aachen in 2004. Since 2007, he is Principal Investigator at CARIM. In 2011, he was appointed Professor of Cardiac Electrophysiology and became chairman of the Department of Physiology in 2019.

His research interests include cellular and integrated actions of antiarrhythmic drugs, the development of substrates for the perpetuation of atrial fibrillation, invasive and non-invasive quantification of the substrate of atrial fibrillation, interaction between atrial fibrillation and activation of the coagulation system, and three-dimensional computer models of atrial fibrillation. He is coordinator of the CVON network RACE V and PI in numerous national and international research networks. He was member of the European task force for the development of the ESC guidelines for management of atrial fibrillation in 2010, 2012, and 2016. Furthermore, he is member of the Executive Committee of the Network of Competence for Atrial Fibrillation (AFNET), co-founder of the Maastricht University spin-off company YourRhythmics BV, and acts as the chairman of the Strategic board of CARIM.

Uli-schotten

Department of Physiology
Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht
PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht
Room number: 3.130
T: +31(0)43 388 12 00

  • 2020
    • Zink, M. D., Chua, W., Zeemering, S., di Biase, L., Antoni, B. D., David, C., Hindricks, G., Haeusler, K. G., Al-Khalidi, H. R., Piccini, J. P., Mont, L., Nielsen, J. C., Escobar, L. A., de Bono, J., Van Gelder, I. C., de Potter, T., Scherr, D., Themistoclakis, S., Todd, D., ... Schotten, U. (2020). Predictors of recurrence of atrial fibrillation within the first 3 months after ablation. EP Europace, 22(9), 1337-1344. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euaa132
    • Bonizzi, P., Meste, O., Zeemering, S., Karel, J., Lankveld, T., Crijns, H., Schotten, U., & Peeters, R. (2020). A novel framework for noninvasive analysis of short-term atrial activity dynamics during persistent atrial fibrillation. Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing, 58(9), 1933-1945. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-020-02190-0
    • Fenner, M. F., Carstensen, H., Nissen, S. D., Hesselkilde, E. M., Lunddahl, C. S., Jensen, M. A. H., Loft-Andersen, A. V., Sather, S. M., Platonov, P., El-Haou, S., Jackson, C., Tang, R., Kirby, R., Ford, J., Schotten, U., Milnes, J., Sorensen, U. S., Jespersen, T., & Buhl, R. (2020). Effect of selective I K,ACh inhibition by XAF‐1407 in an equine model of tachypacing‐induced persistent atrial fibrillation. British Journal of Pharmacology, 177(16), 3778-3794. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.15100
    • De With, R. R., Erkuner, O., Rienstra, M., Nguyen, B.-O., Korver, F. W. J., Linz, D., Ten, H. C., Spronk, H., Kroon, A. A., Maass, A. H., Blaauw, Y., Tieleman, R. G., Hemels, M. E. W., de Groot, J. R., Elvan, A., de Melis, M., Scheerder, C. O. S., Al-Jazairi, M. I. H., Schotten, U., ... RACE V Investigators (2020). Temporal patterns and short-term progression of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation data from RACE V. EP Europace, 22(8), 1162-1172. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euaa123
    • Manninger, M., Zweiker, D., Dobrovnik, M., van Hunnik, A., Rohrer, U., Zirngast, B., Herbst, V., Maechler, H., Schotten, U., Zirlik, A., & Scherr, D. (2020). Acute hyperglycaemia is not associated with the development of atrial fibrillation in healthy pigs. Scientific Reports, 10(1), Article 11881. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-68897-0
    • Kloosterman, M., Chua, W., Fabritz, L., Al-Khalidi, H. R., Schotten, U., Nielsen, J. C., Piccini, J. P., Di Biase, L., Hausler, K. G., Todd, D., Mont, L., Van Gelder, I. C., Kirchhof, P., & AXAFA-AFNET 5 Investigators (2020). Sex differences in catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: results from AXAFA-AFNET 5. EP Europace, 22(7), 1026-1035. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euaa015
    • Linz, B., Hohl, M., Mishima, R., Saljic, A., Lau, D. H., Jespersen, T., Schotten, U., Sanders, P., & Linz, D. (2020). Pharmacological inhibition of sodium-proton-exchanger subtype 3-mediated sodium absorption in the gut reduces atrial fibrillation susceptibility in obese spontaneously hypertensive rats. IJC Heart & Vasculature, 28, Article 100534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcha.2020.100534
    • Gharaviri, A., Bidar, E., Potse, M., Zeemering, S., Verheule, S., Pezzuto, S., Krause, R., Maessen, J. G., Auricchio, A., & Schotten, U. (2020). Epicardial Fibrosis Explains Increased Endo-Epicardial Dissociation and Epicardial Breakthroughs in Human Atrial Fibrillation. Frontiers in physiology, 11, Article 68. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2020.00068
  • 2019
    • Linz, D., Baumert, M., Desteghe, L., Kadhim, K., Vernooy, K., Kalman, J. M., Dobrev, D., Arzt, M., Sastry, M., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Schotten, U., Cowie, M. R., McEvoy, R. D., Heidbuchel, H., Hendriks, J., Sanders, P., & Lau, D. H. (2019). Nightly sleep apnea severity in patients with atrial fibrillation: Potential applications of long-term sleep apnea monitoring. IJC Heart and Vasculature, 24, 1-7. Article 100424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcha.2019.100424
    • Linz, D., Elliott, A. D., Hohl, M., Malik, V., Schotten, U., Dobrev, D., Nattel, S., Boehm, M., Floras, J., Lau, D. H., & Sanders, P. (2019). Role of autonomic nervous system in atrial fibrillation. International Journal of Cardiology, 287, 181-188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2018.11.091
    • Hohl, M., Erb, K., Lang, L., Ruf, S., Hübschle, T., Dhein, S., Linz, W., Elliott, A. D., Sanders, P., Zamyatkin, O., Böhm, M., Schotten, U., Sadowski, T., & Linz, D. (2019). Cathepsin A Mediates Ventricular Remote Remodeling and Atrial Cardiomyopathy in Rats With Ventricular Ischemia/Reperfusion. JACC: Basic to Translational Science, 4(3), 332-344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacbts.2019.01.008
    • Chua, W., Easter, C. L., Guasch, E., Sitch, A., Casadei, B., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Haase, D., Hatem, S., Kaab, S., Mont, L., Schotten, U., Sinner, M. F., Hemming, K., Deeks, J. J., Kirchhof, P., & Fabritz, L. (2019). Development and external validation of predictive models for prevalent and recurrent atrial fibrillation: a protocol for the analysis of the CATCH ME combined dataset. BMC Cardiovascular disorders, 19, Article 120. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-019-1105-4
    • Conte, G., Schotten, U., & Auricchio, A. (2019). The Atrial Phenotype of the Inherited Primary Arrhythmia Syndromes. Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology Review, 8(1), 42-46. https://doi.org/10.15420/aer.2019.4.2
    • Dudink, E., Florijn, B., Weijs, B., Duijs, J., Luermans, J., Peeters, F., Schurgers, L., Wildberger, J., Schotten, U., Bijkerk, R., Crijns, H. J., & van Zonneveld, A. J. (2019). Vascular Calcification and not Arrhythmia in Idiopathic Atrial Fibrillation Associates with Sex Differences in Diabetic Microvascular Injury miRNA Profiles. MicroRNA (Shāriqah, United Arab Emirates), 8(2), 127-134. https://doi.org/10.2174/2211536608666181122125208
  • 2018
    • Dudink, E. A. M. P., Weijs, B., Tull, S., Luermans, J. G. L. M., Fabritz, L., Chua, W., Rienstra, M., Van Gelder, I. C., Schotten, U., Kirchhof, P., & Crijns, H. J. G. M. (2018). The biomarkers NT-proBNP and CA-125 are elevated in patients with idiopathic atrial fibrillation. Journal of Atrial Fibrillation, 11(4). https://doi.org/10.4022/jafib.2058
    • Gharaviri, A., Verheule, S., Eckstein, J., Potse, M., Krause, R., Auricchio, A., Kuijpers, N. H. L., & Schotten, U. (2018). Effect of Na+-channel blockade on the three-dimensional substrate of atrial fibrillation in a model of endo-epicardial dissociation and transmural conduction. EP Europace, 20(Suppl. 3), iii69-iii76. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euy236
    • Pezzuto, S., Gharaviri, A., Schotten, U., Potse, M., Conte, G., Caputo, M. L., Regoli, F., Krause, R., & Auricchio, A. (2018). Beat-to-beat P-wave morphological variability in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: an in silico study. EP Europace, 20, 26-35. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euy227
    • Podziemski, P., Zeemering, S., Kuklik, P., van Hunnik, A., Maesen, B., Maessen, J., Crijns, H. J., Verheule, S., & Schotten, U. (2018). Rotors Detected by Phase Analysis of Filtered, Epicardial Atrial Fibrillation Electrograms Colocalize With Regions of Conduction Block. Circulation-Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, 11(10), Article e005858. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCEP.117.005858
    • Zhao, J., Schotten, U., Smaill, B., & Verheule, S. (2018). Loss of Side-to-Side Connections Affects the Relative Contributions of the Sodium and Calcium Current to Transverse Propagation Between Strands of Atrial Myocytes. Frontiers in physiology, 9, Article 1212. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.01212
    • Manninger, M., Zweiker, D., van Hunnik, A., Alogna, A., Prassl, A. J., Schipke, J., Zeemering, S., Zirngast, B., Schonleitner, P., Schwarzl, M., Herbst, V., Thon-Gutschi, E., Huber, S., Rohrer, U., Ebner, J., Brussee, H., Pieske, B. M., Heinzel, F. R., Verheule, S., ... Scherr, D. (2018). Arterial hypertension drives arrhythmia progression via specific structural remodeling in a porcine model of atrial fibrillation. Heart Rhythm, 15(9), 1328-1336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2018.05.016
    • Kirchhof, P., Haeusler, K. G., Blank, B., De Bono, J., Callans, D., Elvan, A., Fetsch, T., Van Gelder, I. C., Gentlesk, P., Grimaldi, M., Hansen, J., Hindricks, G., Al-Khalidi, H. R., Massaro, T., Mont, L., Nielsen, J. C., Nolker, G., Piccini, J. P., De Potter, T., ... Di Biase, L. (2018). Apixaban in patients at risk of stroke undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation. European Heart Journal, 39(32), 2942-2955. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehy176
    • van Hunnik, A., Zeemering, S., Podziemski, P., Simons, J., Gatta, G., Hannink, L., Maesen, B., Kuiper, M., Verheule, S., & Schotten, U. (2018). Stationary Atrial Fibrillation Properties in the Goat Do Not Entail Stable or Recurrent Conduction Patterns. Frontiers in physiology, 9, Article 947. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.00947
    • Zeemering, S., Lankveld, T. A. R., Bonizzi, P., Limantoro, I., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Crijns, H. J. G. M., & Schotten, U. (2018). The electrocardiogram as a predictor of successful pharmacological cardioversion and progression of atrial fibrillation. EP Europace, 20(7), E96-E104. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/eux234
    • Erkuner, O., Rienstra, M., Van Gelder, I. C., Schotten, U., Crijns, H. J. G. M., & Luermans, J. G. L. M. (2018). Stroke risk in patients with device-detected atrial high-rate episodes. Netherlands Heart Journal, 26(4), 177-181. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-017-1047-3
    • Kotecha, D., Breithardt, G., Camm, A. J., Lip, G. Y. H., Schotten, U., Ahlsson, A., Arnar, D., Atar, D., Auricchio, A., Bax, J., Benussi, S., Blomstrom-Lundqvist, C., Borggrefe, M., Boriani, G., Brandes, A., Calkins, H., Casadei, B., Castella, M., Chua, W., ... Kirchhof, P. (2018). Integrating new approaches to atrial fibrillation management: the 6th AFNET/EHRA Consensus Conference. EP Europace, 20(3), 395-407. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/eux318
    • Zink, M. D., Marx, N., Crijns, H. J. G. M., & Schotten, U. (2018). Opportunities and challenges of large-scale screening for atrial fibrillation. Herzschrittmachertherapie und Elektrophysiologie, 29(1), 57-61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00399-017-0550-y
    • Conte, G., Caputo, M. L., Volders, P. G. A., Luca, A., Mainardi, L., Schotten, U., Corino, V. D. A., Regoli, F., Zeemering, S., Zink, M., Yazdani, S., Kappenberger, L., Moccetti, T., Vesin, J.-M., & Auricchio, A. (2018). Concealed abnormal atrial phenotype in patients with Brugada syndrome and no history of atrial fibrillation. International Journal of Cardiology, 253, 66-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2017.09.214
    • Kotecha, D., Chua, W. W. L., Fabritz, L., Hendriks, J., Casadei, B., Schotten, U., Vardas, P., Heidbuchel, H., Dean, V., Kirchhof, P., & European Society Cardiology ESC; CATCH ME Consortium; EHRA (2018). European Society of Cardiology smartphone and tablet applications for patients with atrial fibrillation and their health care providers. EP Europace, 20(2), 225-233. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/eux299
    • van Hunnik, A., Nasrallah, H., Lau, D. H., Kuiper, M., Verheule, S., & Schotten, U. (2018). Vernakalant does not alter early repolarization or contractility in normal and electrically remodelled atria. EP Europace, 20(1), 140-148. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/eux025
  • 2017
    • Hohl, M., Lau, D. H., Mueller, A., Elliott, A. D., Linz, B., Mahajan, R., Hendriks, J. M. L., Boehn, M., Schotten, U., Sanders, P., & Linz, D. (2017). Concomitant Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome Add to the Atrial Arrhythmogenic Phenotype in Male Hypertensive Rats. Journal of the American Heart Association, 6(9), Article 006717. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.117.006717
    • Lau, D. H., Linz, D., Schotten, U., Mahajan, R., Sanders, P., & Kalman, J. M. (2017). Pathophysiology of Paroxysmal and Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: Rotors, Foci and Fibrosis. Heart Lung and Circulation, 26(9), 887-893. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlc.2017.05.119
    • Gharaviri, A., Verheule, S., Eckstein, J., Potse, M., Kuklik, P., Kuijpers, N. H. L., & Schotten, U. (2017). How disruption of endo-epicardial electrical connections enhances endo-epicardial conduction during atrial fibrillation. EP Europace, 19(2), 308-318. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euv445
    • Kuklik, P., Zeemering, S., van Hunnik, A., Maesen, B., Pison, L., Lau, D. H., Maessen, J., Podziemski, P., Meyer, C., Schaeffer, B., Crijns, H., Willems, S., & Schotten, U. (2017). Identification of Rotors during Human Atrial Fibrillation Using Contact Mapping and Phase Singularity Detection: Technical Considerations. Ieee Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 64(2), 310-318. https://doi.org/10.1109/TBME.2016.2554660
    • Spronk, H. M. H., De Jong, A. M., Verheule, S., De Boer, H. C., Maass, A. H., Lau, D. H., Rienstra, M., van Hunnik, A., Kuiper, M., Lumeij, S., Zeemering, S., Linz, D., Kamphuisen, P. W., ten Cate, H., Crijns, H. J., Van Gelder, I. C., van Zonneveld, A. J., & Schotten, U. (2017). Hypercoagulability causes atrial fibrosis and promotes atrial fibrillation. European Heart Journal, 38(1), 38-50. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehw119
    • Kirchhof, P., Benussi, S., Kotecha, D., Ahlsson, A., Atar, D., Casadei, B., Castella, M., Diener, H.-C., Heidbuchel, H., Hendriks, J., Hindricks, G., Manolis, A. S., Oldgren, J., Popescu, B. A., Schotten, U., Van Putte, B., Vardas, P., Soc Europea Cardiologia Diagnost T, European Heart Rhythm Assoc, & European Stroke Org (2017). Guía ESC 2016 sobre el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la fibrilación auricular, desarrollada en colaboración con la EACTS. Revista Espanola de Cardiologia, 70(1), 50.E1-50.E84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.recesp.2016.11.014
    • Di Biase, L., Callans, D., Haeusler, K. G., Hindricks, G., Al-Khalidi, H., Mont, L., Nielsen, J. C., Piccini, J. P., Schotten, U., & Kirchhof, P. (2017). Rationale and design of AXAFA-AFNET 5: an investigator-initiated, randomized, open, blinded outcome assessment, multi-centre trial to comparing continuous apixaban to vitamin K antagonists in patients undergoing atrial fibrillation catheter ablation. EP Europace, 19(1), 132-138. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euw368
  • 2016
    • Kirchhof, P., Benussi, S., Kotecha, D., Ahlsson, A., Atar, D., Casadei, B., Castella, M., Diener, H.-C., Heidbuchel, H., Hendriks, J., Hindricks, G., Manolis, A. S., Oldgren, J., Popescu, B. A., Schotten, U., Van Putte, B., Vardas, P., Agewall, S., Camm, J., ... Zeppenfeld, K. (2016). 2016 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with EACTS. EP Europace, 18(11), 1609-1678. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euw295
    • Kirchhof, P., Benussi, S., Kotecha, D., Ahlsson, A., Atar, D., Casadei, B., Castella, M., Diener, H.-C., Heidbuchel, H., Hendriks, J., Hindricks, G., Manolis, A. S., Oldgren, J., Popescu, B. A., Schotten, U., Van Putte, B., & Vardas, P. (2016). 2016 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with EACTS. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 50(5), E1-E88. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezw313
    • Kuklik, P., Schaeffer, B., Hoffmann, B. A., Ganesan, A. N., Schreiber, D., Moser, J. M., Akbulak, R. O., Sultan, A., Steven, D., Maesen, B., Schotten, U., Meyer, C., & Willems, S. (2016). Local Electrical Dyssynchrony during Atrial Fibrillation: Theoretical Considerations and Initial Catheter Ablation Results. PLOS ONE, 11(10), Article e0164236. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0164236
    • Kirchhof, P., Benussi, S., Kotecha, D., Ahlsson, A., Atar, D., Casadei, B., Castella, M., Diener, H.-C., Heidbuchel, H., Hendriks, J., Hindricks, G., Manolis, A. S., Oldgren, J., Popescu, B. A., Schotten, U., Van Putte, B., & Vardas, P. (2016). 2016 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with EACTS. European Heart Journal, 37(38), 2893-2962. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehw210
    • Linz, D., Hohl, M., Dhein, S., Ruf, S., Reil, J.-C., Kabiri, M., Wohlfart, P., Verheule, S., Boehm, M., Sadowski, T., & Schotten, U. (2016). Cathepsin A mediates susceptibility to atrial tachyarrhythmia and impairment of atrial emptying function in Zucker diabetic fatty rats. Cardiovascular Research, 110(3), 371-380. https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvw071
    • Reilly, S. N., Liu, X., Carnicer, R., Recalde, A., Muszkiewicz, A., Jayaram, R., Carena, M. C., Wijesurendra, R., Stefanini, M., Surdo, N. C., Lomas, O., Ratnatunga, C., Sayeed, R., Krasopoulos, G., Rajakumar, T., Bueno-Orovio, A., Verheule, S., Fulga, T. A., Rodriguez, B., ... Casadei, B. (2016). Up-regulation of miR-31 in human atrial fibrillation begets the arrhythmia by depleting dystrophin and neuronal nitric oxide synthase. Science Translational Medicine, 8(340), Article 340ra74. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.aac4296
    • Lau, D. H., Schotten, U., Mahajan, R., Antic, N. A., Hatem, S. N., Pathak, R. K., Hendriks, J. M. L., Kalman, J. M., & Sanders, P. (2016). Novel mechanisms in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation: practical applications. European Heart Journal, 37(20), 1573–1581. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehv375
    • Schotten, U., Dobrev, D., Platonov, P. G., Kottkamp, H., & Hindricks, G. (2016). Current controversies in determining the main mechanisms of atrial fibrillation. Journal of Internal Medicine, 279(5), 428-438. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.12492
    • Lankveld, T., de Vos, C. B., Limantoro, I., Zeemering, S., Dudink, E., Crijns, H. J., & Schotten, U. (2016). Systematic analysis of ECG predictors of sinus rhythm maintenance after electrical cardioversion for persistent atrial fibrillation. Heart Rhythm, 13(5), 1020-1027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2016.01.004
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